* 



Class 
Book 




Bella 



Author 



Title 




Imprint 



JO— 302W-1 OPO 



GTB 






FROM THE APPENDIX 

TO THE 



WASHINGTON ASTRONOMICAL OBSERVATIONS 



FOR 1847 



OBSERVATIONS 



ON 



THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER, 



AT MEMPHIS, TENN., 



BY 



/ 



ROBERT A. MARR, U. S. N. 



MARCH 1, 1850, TO MAROH 1, 1851. 



WASHINGTON: 

C. ALEXANDER, PRINTER, 
1853. 









"7 




OBSERVATIONS ON THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. - 

Report and record of observations on the Mississippi River, fyc, at Memphis, Tennessee, con- 
ducted from the 1st March, 1850, to the 1st March, 1851. 

Rain, — The total quantity of rain which has fallen during the year, as measured by the rain gauge, 
is 49.47 inches. — See diagram" F. 

Evaporation. — The amount of evaporation is 43.37 inches. This is the result found from evaporating 
water from a box, carefully prepared for the purpose, and indicates approximately the quantity evaporated 
from large bodies of water. The rate of evaporation from the surface of the earth, when wet and healed by 
the sun is much greater. 

Temperature of the river water. — The mean temperature of the river is 60°. 95 ; that of the atmosphere 
60°. 44. I expected to find the former the lower, as the river flows from more northern latitudes. Wolf river 
which runs along the same parallel of latitude, and enters the Mississippi at this place, has a greater tempe- 
rature than the Mississippi. From this it seems that the mean temperature of each of these rivers is greater 
than that of the atmosphere about them. The gradual manner in which the temperature of the Mississippi 
river is affected by local changes in the temperature of the atmosphere, suggests the idea that it may be 
regarded as an index of the mean temperature of the climates through which the river flows. The difference 
between the temperature of the water at the surface and at the bottom of the river is usually so slight as not 
to be observable with the common thermometer. Occasionally I have found a difference of a small fraction 
of a degree. 

Silt. — A quantity of water has been daily obtained from the middle of the surface of the river, and two 
quarts of it placed in a barrel to settle. In bulk the sediment thus obtained has been found to be in propor- 
tion to the water by which it was deposited as 1 to 2950. To investigate this subject more fully, I suspended 
buckets at various depths beneath the surface, and found the results interesting and important, as they indi- 
cate more sensibly the facility with which the Mississppi can effect immense deposits and removals of sand and 
earth. 

When the river was near high water mark, I suspended a bucket 11 inches in diameter, 30 feet below the 
surface, for 5 minutes. At the same time a bucket full of water was taken from the surface. From the bucket 
below, I obtained 488 grains weight of sand, and from the surface water 60 grains of a mixture of sand and 
earth. Specimens of these deposites are in the papers marked D and E ; and of those from a similar experi- 
ment when the river was low, in the papers F and G. A difference in the fineness of the sand is perceptible. 
Connected with the subject of the silt there appears to be a law, which, if established, may be of practical 
importance, by assisting those interested to judge more correctly of the probable local changes in the banks 

a The diagrams referred to are on plate 45. 



•'■ 










4 OBSERVATIONS ON THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. 

of the river. When the current strikes either bank rather obliquely, it cuts away and rapidly bears off 
the earth ; — the caving in and bearing off go on, and are greatest when a certain relation exists between the 
force, with which the current strikes the bank, and the velocity which it afterwards retains : — that is until the 
bank has a particular curvature. As the curvature increases, the current is checked to such a degree that a 
deposite commences, and the bank ceases to be affected. Hence it may be inferred, that owing to the great 
quantity of silt in this river, it cannot form bends of more than a certain degree of abruptness. Experiments 
in relation to silt would be rendered more interesting and important, if the sediment be collected during every 
rise of the river, and analyzed, and compared with the soil where the rise shall have originated. 

Currents. — '1 he surface currents have been measured almost entirely with the line and chip — deviating 
from the usual custom only in proportioning the time and line for the mile of 1760 yards, and in fitting the 
line with cork-floats to keep it on the surface of the water. Occasionally, when without an anchor, parallel 
lines across or from the river have been resorted to with advantage. There are sources of error peculiar to 
each mode, but the errors usually correct each other. On every occasion of measuring the current, angles 
were taken, and the position projected in a diagram, which as it became filled up, showed the velocities of 
the surface currents in the different sections at every stage of the river's rise and fall; and enabled me to determine 
the mean of the velocities, and also infer accurately the velocity in either side section, when circumstances 
prevented its actual measurement. The average velocity of the surface current in the middle of the river is 
2.97 miles per hour; — the mean deduced from the surface currents of the three sections is 2.41 miles. 

There are so many obstacles (some of which have been before mentioned by myself and others) in the 
way of measuring the velocity of the current below the surface when the river is high and the current rapid, 
that it probably cannot be obtained at that time with much accuracy, even though miles should be passed 
over in conducting each observation. I have found it advisable to observe the currents below the surface only 
when the river was comparatively low — believing that from their velocities, those which obtain at high water may 
be inferred with a greater degree of accuracy than they can be observed. At high water I have frequently thrown 
over blocks near each other, and in five minutes have seen them separated 50 or 100 yards, which will illustrate 
the irregularity of the current. 

For finding the velocities of the current below the surface, I have found the following method most 
accurate and expeditious. Having first ascertained the velocity of the surface current with the log line, I put 
overboard the loaded blocks, or vessels partially filled with water, with their floats attached by lines of the 
desired length ; then put over a block loaded to sink just even with the surface of the water. This block 
is large, so that the action of the atmosphere upon it will be of no moment compared with its momentum. To 
this block I attach a fine line, wound on a small reel. The boat is kept near the float attached to the block 
below, and the surface block takes the line from the reel. After a certain time has elapsed, say five or ten 
minutes, the apparatus is hauled aboard, the boat anchored or made fast to the bank, — and the line, taken from 
the reel, measured, the length of which gives the difference between the currents. 

In trying the rate of the current very near the bottom, the apparatus is so apt to be lost by becoming foul 



OBSERVATIONS ON ill i : MISSISSIPPI RIVER. 



of objects on the bottom, and there is so much uncertainty as to whether the block does nol touch occasionally^ 
that, after a few tiials, 1 found il expedient not to place the block lower than about 10 feet from the bottom. 

The following table shows the means of many observations made under the most favorable circumstances. 

Except in the two cases indicated, the current below was the slowest. 




Depth of river 

where expert' 

incuts were 

made- 


Time daring 
which Boats 

wore drilling. 


Distance 

drifted by Boat 

on surface. 


Distance 

drifted by block 

below. 


Depth below 

surface at 

which block 

was suspended. 


Rutin of current 

above to that 
below. 


REMARKS. 


Feet. 


m. 


Feet. 


Feet. 








50 


11 


2420 


2320 


10 


1.043 


Mean of 8 observations. 


50 


11.5 


50 GO 


4720 


20 


1.072 


ti ii 4 it 


50 


8.5 


3806 


3434 


30 


1.108 


u ' ' 4 << 


50 


8.5 


3740 


3383 


40 


1.105 


ii it 4 <( 


50 


10 


2112 


2122 


10 


0.995 


Current beIow/<w(esf. 


50 


10 


1952 


1980 


20 


0.986 


Current below/nsfesf. 


21 


6.5 


800 


728 


10 


1.099 


Mean of 5 observations. 


12 


10 


880 


780 


6 


1.128 


ii ii 4 it 



From the above results chiefly, I determined to deduct one-tenth for retardation. The experiments, from 
which they were obtained, were made under exceedingly favorable circumstances — the air appeared perfectly 
calm — the surface of the water as smooth as a mirror, and no incident occurred to occasion interruption. 

Of the many sources of error to be avoided in observing the currents below, I will mention one. It is, 
that the surface current is affected by steamboats for a very considerable time after they have passed. 

It will be seen from the diagram E, that when the river is low, the velocities of the current on each side bear 
about the same proportion to that of the central section. This is not in accordance with what would be due 
to the form of the bottom, at the line of observation. It arises from the fact that the course of the channel 
above is such as to set the current against the western bank, thereby counterbalancing the greater retardation 
due on that side from the nearer proximity of the bottom. 

In accordance with this hypothesis, it will be seen from the diagram, that as the river becomes higher, 
the velocity of the current on the west side more nearly approximates to that of the centre, than does that on the 
east. Showing that as the river rises, the former is relieved from retardation by the bottom in a greater ratio 
than the latter. 

In a river where the depth is small compared to its width, and whose sides are rather a continuation of 
the bottom than otherwise, the diminution of the velocity of the current on either side is due chiefly to the 
nearer proximity of the bottom. From this, I suggest that an accurate and convenient mode of determining 
the velocities at different depths, would be to select (when the river is low) a point for observing where the 
course of the channel is straight, and the sides of equal and gentle declivity ; — obtain the velocities from the 
centre to the sides, and let the surface currents at certain distances from the centre, represent the currents below 
the surface at the middle of the channel, and at proportionate distances from the surface. I think that in this 
2 



6 OBSERVATIONS ON THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. 

way, a general law for the average velocities of the current below may readily be deduced, of far more accu- 
racy than could be derived from many hundred observations actually made upon the under currents them- 
selves ; so much do they vary, and so difficult is it to avoid sources of error. 

Quantity of water passing. — Diagram D exhibits a vertical cross section of the river. During the year 
frequent changes of the bottom have been observed. The diagram is projected from soundings taken at the 
latest period of low water, There has been a great deposite on the eastern side ; and on the west, the river 
has encroached about 12 yards. The deposite seems to have been owing to the general sluggishness of 
the stream on this side at this point during the summer months ; and, also, perhaps to the accumulation of 
a bed of drift wood ; since in sounding with a lead armed with a sharp iron, pieces of decayed wood were 
twice brought up. As the snag marked in the diagram D is in 50 feet water, it is probably held by other 
trees fast to the bottom. The area of the cross section of the river at high water is 174 099 square feet. In 
the diagram E the channel is divided into three sections. The amount of water passing daily has been esti- 
mated by multiplying the areas of the cross section into the mean velocities of their surface currents respec- 
tively — adding their products together — multiplying their sum by 24, and diminishing the result by a fraction 
over one-tenth for retardation from the bottom and sides of channel. During the year 13 709 006 232 791 
cubic feet of water have passed this point. 

It has been estimated that, of the rain water falling in the valley of the Mississippi only T ^-o part reaches 
the Gulf. What proportion is lost after once getting into the channel of the river is not known. On the 
borders of this river are immense tracts of overflowed land, and immense quantities of water may be taken up 
by evaporation, and wafted by the winds, to swell the currents of far distant rivers, — may disappear through 
fissures in the bed of the Mississippi itself, or be absorbed and filtered through the overflowed earth, to fill the 
capacious chambers of subterranean reservoirs. 

Overflow. — It is impracticable for the officers of the yard to make any surveys of overflows in addition 

to their regular duties. 

Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

ROBERT A. MARR, 

Acting Master, Navy Yard, Memphis, Tenn. 
Lieut. M. F. Maury, IT. S. N. 

Superintendent, National Observatory, Washington, D. C. 



Diagrams, plate 45. 
Diagram A shows comparatively the quantity of water passing each month ; together with the velocity of the stream. 
B shows the total quantity during the year. 
D is a vertical cross section of the river. 

E shows the velocity of the surface current at different stages of the river — the dotted line with the names of the months, 
shows the height of the river during each month. High-water mark is the best established point, and from it the rise 
and fall of the water were measured. It is marked on the diagram at 83 feet. 
P shows in inches the quantity of rain, which fell in each month. 



(IHSKRVA IIDNS ON 1 1 1 I-. M 1 SS IS8IPP1 RIVER. 



in. 

185 


river i"r«»m 
bottom, 

hi (bet. 


Average i nto of Mir 
Face current! per lioui . 

ill mile*. 


I reus .'i 
A. 


\rr;i- Of 

1! 


\iras of 

c. 


Quantity <>r water |i.im< 
in;: each day, 

in cubic feet. 


Tcinpern 
ture hi' the 

nir. 


T( mpera 
ture "i tin' 


Brapora 

|i . In 


water in 
Incliei. 


[■ 


A. 


B. 


C. 






Ma roh 

1 


77.8 

77.1 
76.7 


a. so 

2.00 


3.50 
3.60 
3.10 


2.75 
3.00 
2 . 25 


58821 

57874 

57097 


62800 
62600 

61700 


3662 1 
36229 
35535 


52 936 17 6 120 
51 345 656 640 

46 138 127 330 


O 

67 j 
50 j 
54 j 


° 
•15 
46 
46 




0.3 


■ 


4 
6 


76. 2 
76.2 

7 6.3 


2.50 



2.75 


3,50 

3.50 
3.75 


2.75 
2.75 
3.25 


56545 
56545 

56655 


61200 
61200 

61300 


35040 

35040 
35139 


51 087 242 200 
51 081 242 200 

56 744 000 560 


41 
47 i 
61! 


16j 

47 
47 




1.7 




7 
8 
9 


76.7 
77.1 

77.1» 


2.75 
3.00 
3.00 


3.75 
4.00 
4.10 


3.25 
3.50 
3.50 


57097 
57541 
58433 


61700 

621(10 
62900 


35535 
3593 1 

36723 


57 200 5 1 1 360 

62 0711 635 880 

63 766 397 640 


481 

57 

64! 


47 

47 
47 








10 

11 

12 


78.6 
79.2 
79.7 


2.50 
2.75 
3.25 


3.50 
3.75 
4.25 


3.00 
3.25 
3-75 


59218 
59896 
60463 


63600 
64200 
64700 


37417 
38017 
38517 


52 668 353 920 
60 154 265 260 
69 919 068 120 


48 

514 

55| 


47 

46.i 

46"! 


1.40 


0.3 




13 

14 
15 


80.4 
80.8 
81.2 


3.00 
3.00 
3.75 


4.00 
4.00 
4.75 


3.50 
3.50 
4.25 


61261 
61720 
62180 


65400 
65800 
66200 


39217 
39617 
40017 


66 055 576 600 
65 778 238 640 
81 472 991 820 


61| 

65 
68| 


46* 

47 
47! 




0.4 
0.5 




16 
17 

18 


81.5 
81.8 
81.9 


3.75 
3.50 
3.25 


4.75 
4.50 
4.25 


4.25 
4.00 
3.75 


62525 

62876 
62993 


66500 
66800 
66900 


40317 
40617 

40717 


81 926 362 320 
80 129 371 680 
72 850 438 320 


70 1 
65 

49 


48 
48 
48! 




0.4 




19 
20 
21 


82.0 
82.1 
82.4 


3.25 

3.25 
3.50 


4.25 

4.25 
4.50 


3.75 
3.75 
4.00 


63110 
63227 
63578 


67000 
67100 
67400 


40817 
40917 
41217 


72 974 420 300 

73 098 402 280 
78 406 808 020 


51? 

50 

59! 


49.i 
49" 
49! 


0.50 


0.6 
1.2 




22 
23 

24 


82.6 

82.7 
82.8 


3.50 
3.50 
3.50 


4.50 
4.50 
4.75 


4.00 
4.00 
4.00 


63812 
63930 
64047 


67600 
67700 
67800 


41417 
41517 
41617 


78 684 599 200 
78 828 974 9C0 
80 902 717 400 


511 
40i 
46! 


50 

501 

50 




2.1 




25 
26 
27 


82.9 

82.8 
82.7 


4.00 
3.00 
3.75 


5.00 
4.25 
4.75 


4.50 
3.75 
4.00 


64165 
64047 
63930 


67900 
67800 
67700 


41717 
41617 
41517 


88 984 645 480 
71 059 101 320 
80 650 909 360 


49i 
431 
35! 


49! 

43! 
48! 




0.3 




28 
29 


82.7 
82.8 


3.50 
4.00 


4.50 
5.00 


4.00 
4.50 


63930 
64047 


67700 
67800 


41517 
41617 


78 823 974 960 
88 827 520 040 


38! 
47i 


48,i 
48! 








30 
31 


82.8 
82.9 


3.50 
3.25 


4.50 
4.25 


4.00 
3.75 


64047 
64165 


67800 
67900 


41617 
41717 


78 979 553 400 
71 186 494 840 


49 
62! 


48! 
48! 


1.10 






3.15 


4.18 


3.62 


2 148 744 082 170 


53.25 


47.84 


3.00 


7.8 




April 
1 
2 
3 


82.7 
82.7 
82.7 


3.25 
3.00 
3.00 


4.25 
4.00 
4.00 


3.75 
3.50 
3.50 


63930 
63930 
63930 


67700 
67700 
67700 


41517 
41517 
41517 


73 922 663 100 
71 099 927 240 
71 099 927 240 


621 

£ 9 * 
62| 


49 
49 
491 








4 
5 
6 


82.7 
82.6 
82.4 


3.25 

3.00 
3.00 


4.25 
4.00 
4.00 


3.75 

3.50 
3.50 


63930 
63812 
63578 


67700 
67600 
67400 


41517 
41417 

41217 


73 922 663 100 

68 882 565 160 
68 633 354 120 


601 
471 
53 


491 

49! 
50 






7 
8 
9 


82.1 

81.7 
81.2 


3.00 
2.75 
2.75 


4.00 
3.75 
3.75 


3.50 
3.25 
3.25 


63227 
62759 
62180 


67100 
66700 
66200 


40917 
40517 
40017 


68 258 597 560 
62 934 636 600 
62 356 564 380 


52 

58J 
51 


50 j 

50 

50 ! 0.75 ! 0.3 




10 
11 
12 


80.3 
78.8 
77.1 


2.75 
2.50 
2.25 


3.75 
3.50 
3.25 


3.00 
2.75 
2.50 


61147 
59444 
57541 


65300 
63800 
62100 


39117 
37617 
35931 


60 204 670 980 
53 962 498 260 
47 805 514 020 


461 

501 

54! 


50 

50! 

51 


,.3 




13 
14 


75.7 
74.5 


2.50 
2.50 


3.50 
3.50 


3.00 
2.75 


55995 
54685 


60700 
59500 


34545 
33357 


51 773 350 200 
49 358 531 260 


52 

571 


51 

5H 






15 
16 


73.5 
73.1 


2.50 
2.50 


3.50 
3.50 


2.75 
2.75 


53615 
52979 


58500 
57900 


32367 
31779 


48 563 487 060 
47 957 750 620 


581 
601 


52 

52 


1.25 

0.83 





OBSERVATIONS ON THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. 



1 

Day of 
month. 

1850. 


Height of 

river from 

bottom, 

in fret. 


Average rate of sur- 
face currents per hour, 
in miles. 


Areas of 
A. 


Areas of 

B. 


Areas of 

c. 


Quantity of water pass 
ing each day, 

in cubic feet. 


Tempera- 
ture of the 
air. 


Tempera- 
ture of the 
river. 


Evapora- 
tion in 
inches. 


Rain 
water in 

inches. 


A. 


B. 


C. 


April 
17 
18 
19 


72.2 
71.5 
71.1 


2.50 
2.50 
3.00 


3.50 
3.50 
4.00 


2.75 
2.75 
3.25 


52240 
51505 
51089 


57200 
56500 
56100 


31083 
30397 
30009 


47 255 906 940 
46 555 034 460 
53 944 278 300 


O 
58 

60 
67| 


O 

52 
51 
51! 




0.22 
0.23 


20 
21 
22 


71.5 
73.0 
75.5 


3.00 
3.00 
3.25 


4.00 
i.00 
4.25 


3.25 
3.25 
3.50 


51505 
53085 
55775 


56500 
58000 
60500 


30397 
31877 
34347 


54 206 395 980 
56 175 967 980 
63 434 708 540 


674 
72| 
69 


51! 
52" 

52 




0.50 
2.02 


23 
24 
25 


78.4 
79.9 
80.9 


3.25 
3.50 
3.50 


4.25 
4.50 
4.50 


3.75 
4.00 
4.00 


58993 
60691 
61835 


63400 
64900 
65900 


3721S 
38717 
39717 


68 196 544 020 
6] 948 879 480 
78 452 212 580 


49 
50 
58| 


52 
52 
52 




0.20 
0.29 


26 

27 
28 


' 81.5 
81.9 
82.1 


3.25 

3.00 
3.00 


4.25 

4.00 
4.00 


3.75 

3.50 
3.50 


62525 
62993 
63227 


66500 
66900 
67100 


40317 
40717 
40917 


72 314 410 400 
71 697 873 200 
68 258 597 560 


66| 

66| 

571 


53 
54 
55 




0.25 
0.10 


29 
30 


82.4 
82.4 


3.00 
3.50 


4.00 
4.50 


3.50 
4.00 


63578 

63578 


67400 
67400 


41217 
41217 


68 633 354 120 

78 409 392 320 


571 
621 


56 
56! 


0.75 




2.92 


3.96 


3.32 


1 850 220 246 780 


53.29 


51.49 


2.75 


5.74 


May 
1 
2 
3 


82.4 
82.5 
82.6 


3.50 
3.50 
3.50 


4.60 
4.60 
4.60 


4.00 
4.00 
4.00 


63578 
63695 
63812 


67400 
67500 
67600 


41217 
41317 
41417 


79 172 367 120 
79 316 480 760 
79 460 594 400 


58 

63i 

644 


57 

58 
58 




0.3S 
0.29 


4 
5 
6 


82.7 
82.8 
82.9 


3.50 
3.50 
3.50 


4.50 
4.50 
4.50 


4.00 

4.00 
4.00 


63930 
64047 
64165 


67700 
67800 
67900 


41517 
41617 
41717 


78 836 574 960 

78 979 053 400 

79 121 532 840 


574 

53 

542 


58 
58 
58 




0.30 
0.16 


7 
8 
9 


82.9 
82.9 
82.9 


3.50 
3.50 
3.50 


4.50 
4.50 
4.50 


4.00 
4.00 
4.00 


64165 
64165 
64165 


67900 
67900 
67900 


41717 
41717 
41717 


79 121 532 840 
79 121 532 840 
79 121 532 840 


61| 
641 
63! 


584 

59 

59! 




0.70 


10 
11 
12 


82.9 
82.9 
82.9 


3.50 
3.50 
3.50 


4.50 
4.50 
4.50 


4.00 
4.00 
4.00 


64165 
64165 
64165 


67900 
67900 
67900 


41717 
41717 
41717 


79 121 532 840 
79 121 532 840 
79 121 532 840 


64! 

571 
62 


59! 
594 
594 




0.30 


13 
14 
15 


82.9 
83.0 
83.0 


3.50 
3.50 
3.50 


4.50 
4.75 
4.50 


4.00 

4.00 
4.00 


641C5 
64282 
64282 


67900 
68000 
68000, 


41717 
41817 
41817 


79 121 532 840 

" 81 195 747 600 

79 264 012 280 


584 

59 

614 


59 
59 
59! 




0.75 
0.60 


16 
17 

18 


83.0 
83.0 
83.0 


3.00 
3.00 
3.00 


4.25 
4.25 
4.25 


3.50 
3.50 
3.50 


64282 
64282 
64282 


68000 
68000 
68000 


41817 
41817 
41817 


69 381 898 360 
71 313 888 360 
71 313 888 360 


69! 

73 

684 


591 
591 
60 






19 
20 
21 


83.0 
83.0 
83.0 


3.00 
3.00 
3.50 


4.25 
4.25 
4.40 


3.50 
3.50 
4.00 


64282 
64282 
64282 


68000 
68000 
68000 


41817 
41817 
41817 


69 381 898 360 
71 313 888 360 
78 491 821600 


674 

74 

691 


601 
61! 
62 


1.00 


0.53 


22 

23 

24 


82.9 

82.8 
82.7 


3.00 
3.00 
3.00 


4.25 
4.25 
4.00 


3.50 
3.50 
3.50 


64165 
64047 
63930 


67900 
67800 
67700 


41717 
41617 
42517 


71 186 494 840 
71 059 101 320 
69 006 386 240 


74 
764 

771 


62 
63 
64 






25 
26 
27 


82.4 
82.1 
81.6 


3.00 
3.00 
3.50 


4.00 
4.20 
4.50 


3.50 
3.50 
4.00 


63578 
63227 
62642 


67400 
67100 
66600 


41217 
40917 
40417 


68 633 411 120 

69 695 935 960 
77 253 414 800 


78 

78! 

781 


65 
65 5 
66" 


1.25 




28 
29 


80.9 
79.9 


3.25 
3.00 


4.25 
4.00 


3.50 
3.50 


61835 
60691 


65900 
64900 


39717 
38717 


70 387 877 340 
65 521 327 400 


774 
681 


67 

68 






30 
31 


78.6 
77.2 


2.40 
2.00 


3.40 
3.10 


3.00 
2.50 


59218 
57S52 


63600 
62200 


37417 
36030 


51 059 553 984 
45 203 528 980 


66 
65 


69 
69 


0.30 


0.50 
0.80 


3.25 


4.30 


3.66 


2 279 401 308 624 


66.62 


65.63 


3.85 


5.31 












' 






■■■■ I 



R\ A HUM. on l III. m [SSISSI1 P] R] V EH, 



Day of 

inunlli. 

1850. 


Helfhl of 
bottom, 
in feet 


Average rote of <ur- 

Dice fiirri-nt- pfl limir, 
111 mill's. 


is of 
A. 


Arena f 
D. 


Air. is of 

c. 


QuRntlt] "i b ittei pn 

in;; i'.hIi day, 

In cubic r<--t. 


Tempera 

III 1 till' 

air. 


Tempera 

tiii ■ - hi the 

river. 


Evnpom 

IIMII Ml 


i 
Rain 

u.H.i 111 
111. Ill 1, 


3 


A. 


B. 


C. 


June 

1 
g 

S 


75.5 
73.9 

72.4 


3.00 
3.7:. 
2.00 


4.00 

4.75 
3.00 


3.50 
4.25 

2.25 


55775 
51043 
52450 


60500 
58900 
57400. 


34347 
32763 
31379 


60 1 13 324 040 
70 573 000 080 

39 467 17 1 180 


o 

1 

64j 


O 
69 
70 
71J 






4 
5 
6 


71 .2 

70.0 
69.0 


9.00 
1.75 

1.75 


3.00 

■2.75 
2.75 


2.25 

1.75 
1.75 


51193 
49950 
48935 


56200 

55000 
54000 


30106 

28912 
27972 


39 316 413 520 
34 820 Ml 6 920 
31 929 313 970 


71| 
72j 

75; 


713 

71 
72 








7 
8 
9 


67.9 
66.9 
66.1 


1.40 
1 .25 
1.75 


2.40 
2.25 

•.'..Ml 


1.40 
1.25 
1.75 


47847 

46- 

46119 


52900 
51900 

51100 


26905 
25935 
25163 


26 275 442 056 
24 745 254 700 
28 511 955 820 


73,; 

75.', 

7e 


72 
73 
74 


1.30 


0.03 
1.20 




10 

11 


65.9 
65.7 
65.5 


L.75 
1.75 

1.75 


2.T5 
2.75 

2.75 


1.75 
1.75 
1.75 


45931 
45713 
45555 


50900 
50700 
50500 


24971 
24779 
24587 


29 687 914 020 
29 685 804 220 
29 683 694 420 


69i 

69 

70? 


75 
75 i 
76 








13 

N 
15 


65.2 
64.9 
64.6 


[.75 

1.75 
1.75 


•J. 75 
2.50 
2.50 


1.75 
1.75 
1.75 


45279 
45003 
44725 


50200 
49900 
49600 


24299 
24011 
23723 


29 680 529 720 
27 723 561 140 
27 530 739 500 


72 
73? 

734 


76 
76 

76.; 




0.48 
0.10 
0.12 




1C 

17 
18 


64.3 
64.1 

63.8 


1.75 
1.75 

1.50 


2.50 

2.50 
2.50 


1.75 

1.75 
1.50 


44455 
44275 
44U05 


49300 
49100 
48800 


23437 
23.247 
22962 


27 337 917 860 
27 217 370 100 
25 250 430 740 


72 
76 i 
78.J 


76 
76 
76 


0.75 


2.58 




19 
20 
21 


53.4 
63.2 
63.1 


1.50 

1.50 
1.50 


2.50 
2.50 
2.50 


1.50 
1.50 
1.50 


43648 
43474 
43387 


48400 
48200 
48100 


22572 
22382 
22287 


25 011841 600 
24 892 903 820 
24 833 434 930 


78 i 
77J 
80 


77 
78 
80 








■22 
23 
24 


62.9 
62.5 

62.2 


1.50 
1.50 
1.50 


2.50 
2.50 
2.50 


1.50 

1.50 
1.50 


43213 
42865 

42607 


47900 
47500 
47200 


22097 
21727 
21442 


24 714 497 150 
24 476 621 590 
24 298 214 920 


811 

78 

802 


80 
81 
81! 


1.50 


0.50 




25 
26 
27 


62.0 
61.9 
61.8 


1.50 
1.50 
1.25 


2.50 
2.50 
2.25 


1.50 
1.50 
1.25 


42435 
42349 
42263 


47000 
46900 
46800 


21252 
21157 
21062 


24 179 277 140 
24 119 808 250 
21 075 622 250 


79i 
80J 
772 


81! 

82 
83 




0.11 
0.82 
0.38 




28 
29 
30 


61.9 
62.1 
62.7 


1.00 
1.50 
1.50 


2.10 
2.50 
2.50 


1.25 
1.50 
1.50 


42349 
42521 
43039 


46900 
47100 
47700 


21157 
21347 
21917 


19 035 709 130 
24 243 068 040 
24 597 967 680 


78 
79 1 
802 


83i 

831 
831 


0.50 


0.03 
0.25 




1.71 


2.67 


1.78 


895 029 623 506 


75.00 


76.70 


4.05 


6.60 




July 
1 

2 
3 


63.0 
63.2 
63.2 


2.00 
1.75 
1.75 


3.00 
2.75 
2.75 


2.00 
1.75 
1.75 


43300 
43474 

43474 


48000 
48200 
48200 


22192 
22382 
22382 


31 216 223 680 

27 988 438 560 
27 988 438 560 


79 1 

791 

80 


.831 

821 
82 




0.45 




4 
5 
6 


63.2 
63.0 
63.1 


1.75 
1.75 
1.75 


2.75 
2.75 
2.75 


1.75 
1.75 
1.75 


43474 
43300 
43387 


48200 
48000 
48100 


22382 
22192 

22287 


27 988 438 560 
27 787 490 100 
27 921 455 740 


78 

81i 

88 


82! 
83 

83 


0.75 


0.60 
1.05 
0.10 




7 
8 
9 


63.5 
64.0 
64.4 


1.75 
1.75 
2.00 


2.75 
2.75 
3.00 


1.75 
1.75 
2.20 


43735 
44185 
44545 


48500 
49000 
49400 


22677 
23152 
23532 


28 189 387 020 
28 524 301 120 
32 814 136 608 


1H 

80i 
79 


83i 

84" 
841 




0.04 
0.67 




10 
11 
12 


64.5 
64.4 
64.4 


2.00 
2.00 
1.60 


3.00 
3.00 
2.60 


2.20 
2.20 
1.75 


44635 
44545 
44544 


49500 
49400 
49400 


23627 
23532 
23532 


32 892 351 888 
32 814 136 608 
27 295 579 560 


782 
812 
811 


85 
86 
85 




0.04 




13 
14 
15 


64.3 
64.3 
64.3 


1.75 
1.75 
1.75 


2.75 
2.75 
2.75 


2.00 
2.00 
2.20 


44455 
44455 
44455 


49300 
49300 
49300 


23437 
23437 
23437 


29 447 462 530 
29 447 462 530 
29 447 462 530 


771 
79i 
80| 


85 

85! 

86 








16 
17 

18 


64.] 

63.8 
63.5 


2.00 
2.00 
2.00 


3.00 
3.00 
3.00 


2.20 
2.20 
2.20 


44275 
44005 
43735 

1 


49100 
48800 
48500 


23247 
22962 

22677 


32 579 490 768 
32 344 844 928 
32 110 199 088 


81 

802 

77 


85! 

84 

84! 


1.30 


0.05 








10 



OBSERVATIONS OX THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. 



1 

Pay of 
month. 

1850. 


Height of 

river from 

bottom, 

in feet. 


Average rate of sur- 
face currents per hour, 
in niii.es. 


Areas of 
A. 


Areas of 

B. 


Areas of 

c. 


Quantity of water pass- 
ing each day, 

in cubic feet. 


Tempera- 
ture of the 
air. 


Tempera- 
ture of the 
water. 


Evapora- 
tion in 
inches. 


Rain 
wafer in 
inches. 


A. 


B. 


C. 


July 
19 

20 

21 

• 


63.4 

64.2 
62.9 


2.00 

2.00 
2.00 


3.00 

3.00 
3.00 


2.20 

2.20 
2.20 


43648 
44365 
43213 


48400 
49200 
47900 


22572 
23342 

22097 


32 031 983 808 
32 657 706 048 
31 651 182 688 


O 
76 
74i 
79" 


O 

84 
84 
84! 






22 
23 
24 


62.5 
62.2 
62.1 


2.00 
1.75 

1.75 


3.00 
2.75 
2.75 


2.20 
1.75 

1.75 


42865 
42607 
42521 


47500 
47200 
47100 


21727 
21442 
21347 


31 334 857 488 
27 321 164 990 
27 254 378 680 


80 h 
79| 
76i 


85 

84| 

84! 


1.20 




25 
26 
27 


62.1 

62.3 
62.3 


1.75 
2.00 
2.00 


2.75 
3.00 
3.00 


1.75 
2.00 
2.00 


42521 
42693 
42693 


47100 
47300 
47300 


21347 
21537 
21537 


27 254 378 680 
32 843 632 200 
32 843 632 200 


78| 

80 

782 


84 
83 
83! 






28 
29 


62.2 
61.9 


1.50 
1.50 


2.50 
2.25 


1.50 
1.50 


42607 
42349 


47200 
46900 


21442 
21157 


24 301 623 720 
22 793 099 680 


77 \ 
83" 


83 
82 




0.16 


j 30 
31 


61.5 
61.2 


1.50 
1.50 


2.50 
2.50 


1.50 
1.50 


42005 
41747 


46500 
46200 


20777 
20401 


23 837 218 960 
23 651 121 440 


79i 

82" 


82 
83 


0.50 


0.03 


1.81 


2.80 


1.91 


897 623 280 970 


79.00 


83.88 


3.75 


3.19 


August 
1 
2 
3 


60.9 
60.7 
60.5 


1.30 
1.50 
1.25 


2.40 
2.50 
2.25 


1.30 
1.50 
1.25 


41489 
41317 
41145 


45900 
45700 
45500 


20213 

20025 
19837 


21 478 438 123 
23 414 975 760 
20 406 067 100 


82 
85 
85! 


82 

82i 

83 






4 
5 

\ 6 


60.5 
61.0 
60.9 


1.25 
1.20 
1.20 


2.25 

2.00 
2.00 


1.25 

1.20 
1.20 


41145 

41575 
41489 


45500 
46000 
45900 


19837 
20307 
20213 


20 406 067 100 
18 873 653 525 
18 839 329 248 


86 
85 k 
82! 


83i 

84" 
85 


1.25 




7 
8 
9 


61.3 
61.6 
61. 9 


1.20 
1.20 
1.50 


2.20 
2.30 
2.50 


1.20 
1.20 
1.50 


41833 
42091 
42349 


46300 
46600 
46900 


20589 
20872 
21157 


20 062 221 728 
20 741 993 162 
24 039 021 680 


84 

84! 

86! 


86 
86 
86 






10 
11 
12 


62.3 
63.0 
63.2 


1.75 
1.50 
2.20 


2.75 
2.50 
3.20 


1.50 
1.30 
2.20 


42693 
43300 
43474 


47300 
48000 
48200 


21537 
22192 
22382 


26 823 035 790 
24 772227 740 
33 956 465 664 


881 
85* 
86! 


86i 

85 

84 


1.75 




13 
14 
15 


63.0 

62.7 
62.7 


2.50 
2.50 
2.25 


3.50 
3.50 
3.25 


2.50 
2.50 
2.75 


43300 
43039 
43039 


48000 
47700 
47700 


22192 
21917 
21917 


37 657 989 600 
37 384 526 800 
34 313 900 412 


87 

88! 

82 


84 
85 
86 




' 


16 

< 17 
18 


62.9 
62.9 
62.9 


2.25 
2.00 
1.50 


3.25 
3.00 
2.50 


2.30 
2.20 
2.50 


43213 
43213 
43213 


47900 
47900 
47900 


22097 
22097 
22097 


34 236 969 628 
f3 290 806 400 
24 165 807 962 


82| 

87| 
821 


86 
86 
86 






19 

20 
| 21 


62.7 
62.5 
62.1 


1.75 
1.75 
1.75 


2.75 

2.75 
2.75 


1.30 
1.75 
1.75 


43039 
42865 
42521 


47700 
47500 
47100 


21917 
21727 
21347 


27 655 489 560 
27 521 523 920 
26 985 661 360 


82 

85! 

84 


86 
86 
86 


1.50 


0.02 


22 
23 

24 


61.8 
61.5 
61.3 


1.75 
1.50 
1.50 


2.75 

2.50 
2.50 


1.75 
1.75 
1.50 


42263 
42005 
41833 


46800 
46500 
46300 


21062 

20777 
20589 


26 583 764 440 
23 887 218 960 
23 769 115 160 


79| 
81! 

78 


86 

85 
84 




0.05 


25 
26 

27 


61.0 
60.6 
60.2 


1.50 
1.75 
1.50 


2.50 
2.75 
2.50 


1.50 
1.50 
1.75 


41575 
41231 

40887 


46000 
45600 
45200 


20309 
19931 
19555 


23 414 803 760 
26 254 352 620 
22 469 973 360 


75i 
66! 
72! 


84 
84 
83 


0.75 


0.35 


28 
29 


59.9 
59.7 


1.50 
1.50 


2.50 
2.50 


1.50 
1.50 


40629 
40457 


44900 
44700 


19273 

19085 


22 115 661 960 
21 879 454 360 


74! 
751 


83 

82 




0.05 
0.05 


30 
31 


59.7 
59.7- 


1.50 
1.25 


2.50 
2.25 


1.50 
1.25 


40457 
40457 

_ 


44700 
44700 


19085 
19085 


21 879 454 360 
21 879 454 360 


76.i 
52" 


82 
80 


0.25 


0.95 


1.63 


2.62 


1.66 


791 149 405 542 


81.09 


84.75 


5.50 


1.47 



















IIVATIONS on int: MISSISSIPPI RIVEH 



11 



Day Of 

month. 

1850, 


Height of 

river from 

bottom, 

in fbet 


Average rate of sur- 
face current! per hour, 

in null' . 


Afeai oi' 


Areas of 

B. 


Areas of 

c. 


Quantity of water pass 
nit; each day, 

In cubic feet 


Tempera Tempera 

lllli- nl [111- llll.' '.I III. 

air. water. 


E\ aporo 

ii 

Inches. 


Bain 
water in 

in. be 


■ 


A. 


B. 


('. 




September 

1 
2 

3 


59.6 

59.7 
59.9 


l.:ii) 
1.30 
1.30 


2.50 
2.50 

2.50 


1.30 
1.30 
1.30 


40371 
40457 
40629 


44600 
44700 
44900 


18991 
19085 
19273 


21 290 258 212 
21 344 814 892 
21 453 928 252 


o 

6.V. 
III 
65 i 




79 
78 
77 






j 


4 
5 

6 


60.1 
60.4 
60.6 


1.30 
1.30 
1.75 


2.50 
2.50 
2.75 


1.30 
1.30 
1.50 


40801 
411159 
41231 


45100 
45400 
45600 


19461 
19743 
19931 


21 563 041 612 
21 726 711 652 
25 731 562 490 


71.1 
72? 
721 


76 j 

76'. 
75j 


1.75 




m 


7 
8 
9 


60.8 
60.8 
60.8 


1.75 

1.75 
2.00 


2.75 
2.75 
2.75 


1.50 
1.50 
1.50 


41403 
41403 
41403 


45800 
45800 
45800 


20119 
20119 
20119 


25 859 810 850 
25 859 810 850 
25 859 810 850 


73? 

703 
'*! 
72 


7.,.; 

75J 
76 








10 
11 
12 


60.8 
60.7 
60.5 


1.25 

1.25 
1.25 


2.25 
2.25 
2.25 


1.25 
1.25 
1.25 


41403 
41317 
41145 


45800 
45700 
45500 


20119 
20025 
19837 


20 560 480 100 
20 509 009 100 
20 406 067 100 


74 

72J 

81 


76 
76 
76 








13 

14 

15 


60.2 
59.9 
59.6 


1.50 
1.50 
1.50 


2.50 

2.50 
2.50 


1.30 
1.30 
1.30 


40887 
40629 
40371 


45200 
44900 
44600 


19555 
19273 
18991 


22 633 803 790 
22 463 721 848 
21 953 476 022 


765 

74 
79g 


76 
76 

751 


1.70 






16 
17 

IS 


59.3 
59.0 
59.0 


1.25 
1.25 
1.25 


2.25 
2.25 
2.25 


1.25 
1.25 
1.25 


40113 
39855 
39855 


44300 
44000 
44000 


18711 
18432 
18432 


19 788 703 200 
19 634 722 350 
19 634 722 350 


70! 

70 

75= 


75 

74 
731 








19 

20 
21 


59.0 
59.2 
59.4 


1.00 
1.25 
1.50 


2.50 
2.25 
2.50 


1.25 
1.20 
1.25 


39855 
40027 
40199 


44000 
44200 
44400 


18432 
18618 
18804 


20 938 282 830 
19 591 671 782 
22 154 521 920 


73 i 
69 \ 
701 


73 

721 

72! 




0.03 




22 

. 23 

24 


59.5 
59.4 
59.3 


1.50 
1.20 
1.25 


2.50 
2.40 
2.20 


1.25 
1.25 
1.20 


40285 
40199 
40113 


44500 
44400 
44300 


18897 
18804 
18711 


22 210 942 650 
20 651 387 174 
19 076 899 776 


741 
771 
78" 


72i 
72| 
73" 


1.62 






25 

26 

27 


58.9 
58.4 
57.7 


1.50 
1.50 
1.25 


2.25 

2.50 
2.50 


1.20 
1.25 
1.25 


39769 
39340 
38745 


43900 
43400 

42700 


18339 
17875 
17231 


18 987 984 284 
21 612 128 950 
21 197 884 150 


78| 

78! 
80 


74 

74i 

75" 








28 

29 
30 


56.9 
56.3 
56.1 


1.25 

1.25 
1.20 


2.40 
2.25 
2.00 


1.20 
1.20 
1.20 


38065 
37557 
37389 


41900 
41300 

41100 


16495 
15945 
15763 


19 145 804 330 
18 131 023 330 
16 701 137 048 


71 i 
67i 
73" 


75 h 
75 i 
74?" 


.90 






1.38 


2.42 


1.28 


638 674 123 744 


73.20 


75.09 


5.97 


0.03 




October 
1 
2 
3 


55.9 
55.5 
56.1 


1.25 
1.25 
1.20 


2.00 
2.00 
1.75 


1.25 
1.25 
1.20 


37221 
36885 
37389 


40900 
40500 
41100 


15581 
15217 
15763 


16 892 279 100 
16 696 113 100 
14 959 255 896 


68 

681 

611 


741 
74! 
73! 


0.90 






4 
5 
6 


54.9 
54.7 
54.6 


0.75 
1.20 
1.00 


1.50 
1.75 
1.75 


0.75 
1.00 
1.00 


36381 
36213 
36129 


39900 
39700 
39600 


14677 
14497 
14407 


11 356 250 120 
14 380 226 152 
13 521 740 125 


65 
61| 

51 


73! 

72 

701 


0.70 






7 
8 
9 


55.4 
54.3 

54.0 


1.00 
1.00 
1.20 


1.75 

1.75 
2.00 


1.00 
1.00 
1.30 


35961 
35877 
35625 


39400 
39300 
39000 


14228 
14139 
13872 


13 445 049 280 
13 400 659 320 
15 724 889 472 


56! 

60 

69 


69! 
68 

68 




0.30 




10 
11 
12 


53.9 

n 43.9 
53.8 


1.25 
1.25 
1.20 


2.00 
2.00 
1.80 


1.20 
1.20 
1.00 


35541 
35541 

35457 


38900 
38900 
38800 


13783 
13783 
13694 


15 460 993 548 
15 460 993 548 
14 307 178 348 


701 
721 
62! 


67| 

67! 
67! 


0.50 


0.30 




13 
14 
15 


54.1 

54.4 
54.4 


1.20 
1.20 
1.25 


1.80 
1.80 
1.20 


1.00 
1.00 
1.20 


35709 
35961 
35961 


39100 
39400 
39400 


13961 
14228 
14228 


14 438 834 636 
14 564 852 224 
16 063 753 122 


58 

581 

65| 


66 
65 
65 




0.20 




16 
17 

18 


54.4 
54.4 
54.4 


1.25 
1.25 
1.25 


2.00 
2.00 
2.00 


1.20 
1.20 
1.20 


35961 
35961 
35961 


39400 
39400 
39400 


14228 
14228 
14228 


16 063 753 122 
16 063 753 122 
16 063 753 122 


74 

68! 

59J 


66 0.90 

66 

65 


0.54 





12 



OBSERVATIONS ON THE MISSISSIPPI R1VEK. 



Day of 
month. 

1850. 


Height of 

iver from 

bottom, 

in feet. 


Average rate of sur- 
face currents per hour, 
in miles. 


Areas of 

A. 


Areas of 

B. 


Areas of 

c. 


Quantity of water pass- 
ing each day, 

in cubic feet. 


Tempera- 
ture of the 
air. 


Tempera- 
ture of the 
water. 


Evapora- 
tion in 
inches. 


Rain 
water in 
inches. 


A. 


B. 


C. 


October 
19 
20 
21 


54.3 
54.3 
54.2 


1.25 
1.25 
1.00 


2.00 
2.00 
1.75 


1.25 
1.25 
1.00 


35877 
35877 
35793 


39300 
39300 
39200 


14139 
14139 
14050 


16 105 761 800 
16 105 761 800 
13 361 326 360 


O 

52 
51| 

59 1 


O 
64 
63 
62 






22 
23 
24 


54.0 
53.7 
53.5 


1.20 
0.75 
0.75 


2.00 
1.60 
1.60 


1.30 
0.75 
0.75 


35625 
35373 

35205 


39000 
38700 
38500 


13872 
13605 
13427 


15 724 889 472 
11 199 145 320 
11 144 110 480 


62! 
56 


62 

611 

601 


1.70 




25 
26 
27 


54.3 

53.0 
52.7 


1.00 
1.20 
1.25 


1.75 
2.00 
2.00 


1.00 
1.20 
1.25 


35877 
34790 
34541 


39300 
38000 

37700 


14139 
12987 
12723 


13 400 659 320 

14 232 894 048 

15 701 511 490 


47 
43 
46| 


60 

58; 

58" 






28 
29 


52.5 
52.3 


1.20 
1.20 


1.80 
1.80 


1.00 
1.00 


34375 
34209 


37500 
37300 


12547 
12373 


13 769 635 440 
13 736 402 576 


50| 
54 


57i 
57 






30 
31 


52.2 
52.2 


0.75 
0.75 

1.11 


1.75 
1.60 


1.00 
0.75 


34126 
34126 


37200 
37200 


12286 
12286 


11 476 644 680 

10 708 228 080 


571 
58 


57 
57 






1.79 


1.08 


445 531 298 223 


59.69 


65.07 


4.70 


1.07 


November 
1 
2 
3 


52.1 
52.0 
51.9 


1.25 
0.75 
0.75 


1.75 
1.50 
1.50 


1.25 

1.00 
1.00 


34043 
33960 
33877 


37100 
37000 
36900 


12199 
12112 
12025 


13 951 681 100 
10 566 668 640 
10 532 697 780 


63! 

67? 
641 


561 

571 
57 


1.30 




4 
5 
6 


51.9 

52.0 
52.0 


0.75 
1.00 
1.00 


1.50 
1.75 
1.75 


1.00 
1.25 
1.25 


33877 
33960 
33960 


36900 
37000 
37000 


12025 
12112 
12112 


10 532 697 780 

12 870 742 800 
12 870 742 800 


631 

70 

51 


57.; 

58 

571 




0.15 


7 
8 
9 


52.1 
52.3 
52.4 


1.25 
1.25 
1.25 


1.50 

1.60 
1.75 


1.00 
1.00 
1.25 


34043 
34209 
34292 


37100 

37300 
37400 


12199 
12375 
12460 


12 606 112 630 

13 107 263 110 

14 062 599 600 


46 
46 
51 


56| 
56i 
56" 


0.60 


0.08 


10 
11 

12 


52.6 
53.0 
53.7 


1.00 
1.00 
1.25 


1.50 
1.60 
2.00 


1.00 
1.00 
1.50 


34458 
34790 
35373 


37600 
38000 
38700 


12635 

12987 
13605 


11 748 525 360 

12 325 711 040 

16 198 588 000 


35i 
462 

50! 


551 
55! 

541 




0.07 


13 

14 
15 


54,4 
54.9 
55.1 


1.25 
1.25 
1.25 


2.00 
2.00 
2.00 


1.25 
1.25 
1.25 


35961 
36381 
36549 


39400 
39900 
40100 


14228 

> 14677 

14857 


16 175 101 450 
16 370 800 900 
16 509 338 300 


45! 

471 
47! 


54 

531 

521 






16 
17 

18 


55.1 
55.1 

54.9 


1.25 
1.25 
1.25 


2.00 
2.00 
2.00 


1.25 
1.25 
1.25 


36549 
36549 
36381 


40100 
40100 
39900 


14857 
14857 
14677 


16 509 338 300 
16 509 338 300 
16 370 800 900 


361 
36| 

47? 


51 
50 
49 


1.10 




19 
20 
21 


54.8 
54.6 
54.5 


1.25 
1.25 
1.25 


2.00 
2.00 
2.20 


1.30 
1.50 
1.25 


36297 
36129 
36045 


39800 
39600 
39500 


14587 
14407 
14317 


16 366 032 200 

16 290 318 832 

17 495 069 010 


37 

321 

561 


49 

481 

48 




0.47 


22 
23 

24 


55.4 
54.3 
54.2 


1.20 
1.25 
1.30 


2.00 
2.00 
2.00 


1.25 
1.25 
1.25 


36801 
35877 
35793 


40400 
39300 
39200 


15127 
14139 
14050 


16 703 067 576 
16 105 761 800 
16 129 103 318 


49 
44 
491 


471 
461 
461 




0.08 


25 
26 

27 


54.1 

54.0 
54.5 


1.25 

1.20 
1.25 


2.00 
2.00 
2.20 


1.30 
1.50 
1.25 


35709 
35625 
36045 


39100 
39000 
39500 


13961 
13872 
14317 


16 032 227 500 
15 724 889 472 

17 495 069 010 


60| 
66? 
68! 


47 

47 
471 


0.50 


0.30 
0.20 
0.30 


28 
29 
30 


54.8 
55.1 
55.4 


1.25 
1.25 
1.20 


2.00 
2.00 
2.00 


1.25 
1.25 
1.25 


■36297 
36549 
36801 


39800 
40100 
40400 


14587 
14857 
15127 


16 366 032 200 
16 509 338 300 
16 703 067 576 


44| 
41| 
49! 


471 

48 

471 






1.16 


1.87 


1.22 


447 738 725 584 


50.52 


51.40 


3.50 


1.65 
















,.,„ ,., 



OBSERVATIONS ON TIlE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. 



13 



Daj of 

m.'iitii. 

1850. 


Height "i 

rivet ii.uii 

bottom, 

in feat 


Avenge t tie of iui - 
face currenta pet hour, 

in in 


treat of 

A. 


trees of 
B. 


.\n\ i- of 

c. 


Quantity "i water pnea 

Ing inch day, 
in cubic iirt. 


Tempore 

mi. ..I the 

in r. 


Tempera 
lure "1 iIh 


1 i 

nun in 


ttaln 

wiin-r in 
Incbe ■ 


A. 


B. 


C. 






December 

1 
g 

S 


55.6 
56.0 

56 . 4 


1.25 
1.30 
1.25 


2.00 

•j.. 'tii 
2.00 


1 ..'.ii 
1.60 
1.50 


36969 
37305 

3764 1 


40600 
41000 

ii 100 


15308 
15672 

16036 


16 751 020 860 
18 5:15 48] 112 

17 14 1 060 220 


O 

56j 
66 
47 J 


o 
48 j 

49 
49 




0.88 


4 
5 
6 


56.9 
57.5 

57.9 


1.25 
1.25 
1.25 


2.00 

2.00 
2.00 


1.50 
1.50 
1.50 


38065 

38915 


41900 
42500 

42900 


16495 
17017 
17415 


17 390 937 900 

17 687 559 540 

18 248 484 910 


36 

26? 

25? 


48 
46 
44 




1.05 


8 
9 


58.1 
58.9 

58.3 


1.25 
1.30 
1.50 


2.00 
2.36 
2.55 


1.50 
1.50 
1.75 


390S5 
39085 
39170 


43100 

43 100 
43200 


17599 
17599 
17691 


18 412 160 970 

19 688 775 920 
22 406 486 010 


23? 
22.i 
34| 


42 
41 
40 


1.10 




10 
11 
12 


60.1 
62 . 1 
64.1 


1.50 
1.50 
1.50 


2.50 

•J. 50 
2.50 


1.50 
1.50 
1.50 


40801 
42521 
44275 


45100 
47100 
49100 


19461 
21347 
23249 


23 041 442 910 

24 240 273 040 

25 432 566 720 


35 

46? 
51? 


39 
38 
38 






13 

14 
15 


65.5 
67.0 
68.3 


2.00 
2.50 
2.50 


3.00 
3.50 
3.50 


2.25 
2.50 
2.75 


45555 
46975 
48239 


50500 
52000 
53300 


24587 
26032 
27293 


33 821 098 740 
41 380 026 600 
43 603 712 940 


39 ! 
43 i 
51| 


39 

40 
40! 




1.60 


16 
17 

18 


69.4 
69.5 
69.7 


3.00 
2.50 
2.50 


4.00 
3.50 
3.50 


3.25 
2.75 
2.75 


49335 
49435 
49641 


54400 
54500 
54700 


28360 
28457 
28651 


51 321 618 000 
44 567 277 260 
44 765 788 980 


53 i 
40! 
41? 


41 
42 
42 






19 
20 
21 


69.7 

70.3 
68.9 


2.25 
2.25 

2.25 


3.25 
3.25 
3.25 


2.50 
2.50 
2.50 


49641 
50259 
48835 


54700 
55300 
53900 


28651 
29233 

27875 


40 992 164 020 

41 535 861 180 

40 448 466 800 


484 
42! 
46| 


42 
42 
42 


0.45 


0.34 


22 
23 
24 


68.6 
68.1 
67.6 


2.25 
2.25 
2.50 


3.25 
3.25 
3.50 


2.50 
2.50 
2.75 


48535 
48043 
47553 


53600 
53100 
52600 


27584 
27099 
26614 


40 176 618 280 
39 723 537 213 
39 270 456 146 


42! 
39? 
37! 


42 
42 
41! 




1.75 


25 
26 
27 


67.8 
68.3 
69.3 


2.50 
2.50 
2.50 


3.50 
3.50 
3.60 


2.75 

2.75 
2.75 


47749 
48239 
49235 


52800 
53300 
54300 


26808 
27293 
28263 


39 089 223 960 

43 992 774 540 

44 986 925 940 


41i 
40 

40! 


41! 
41! 
42 




0.45 


28 
29 


70.4 
71.5 


2.50 
2.50 


3.60 
3.60 


2.75 
2.75 


50362 
51505 


55400 
56500 


29330 
30397 


46 080 492 480 

47 191 704 520 


41 
35! 


42 
41! 






30 
31 


72.0 
72.4 


2.50 
2.50 


3.50 
3.50 


2.75 

2.75 


52030 
52450 


57000 
57400 


30887 
31279 


47 055 657 660 
47 556 156 220 


35 
31| 


41! 
40! 


0.75 




2.01 


3.00 


2.23 


1056 538 811951 


42.11 


42.22 


2.30 


6.07 


1851 

January 

1 

2 

3 


72.5 
72.3 
71.8 


2.75 
2.75 
3.00 


3.75 
3.75 
4.00 


3.00 
3.00 
3.25 


52555 
52345 

51820 


57500 
57300 
56800 


37377 
31181 
30691 


53 720 121 220 
51 352 673 460 

54 762 700 740 


32! 
34? 
37| 


39! 

39 

39 






4 
5 

6 


71.3 

70.8 
69.3 


3.00 
2.75 
2.75 


4.00 
3.75 
3.75 


3.25 
3.00 
3.00 


51297 
50777 
49235 


56300 
55800 
54300 


30203 
29718 
28263 


50 524 354 140 
49 726 385 940 
48 110 939 580 


44 
50i. 

584 


39 
39 
39! 






8 
9 


68.0 
66.5 
64.9 


2.75 
2.75 
2.50 


3.75 
3.75 
3.50 


2.75 
2.75 
2.50 


47945 
46495 
45003 


53000 
51500 
49900 


27002 
25547 
24011 


45 953 054 460 
44 413 621 560 
38 700 361 200 


50| 
61? 
49! 


39! 
39 

39 


0.70 


0.45 


10 
11 
12 


63.4 
62.0 
61.0 


2.25 
2.00 
1.75 


3.25 
3.00 
2.75 


2.25 
2.00 
1.50 


43648 
42435 

41575 


48400 
47000 
46000 


22572 
21252 
20307 


34 770 608 400 
30 465 816 480 
27 692 987 710 


41i 

44i 
46 


39! 

39? 
39? 


i 
! 


13 
14 


60.0 
59.1 


1.50 
1.50 


2.50 
2.50 


1.50 
1.50 


40629 
39941 


44900 
44100 


19273 
18525 


22 942 732 560 
22 471 170 480 


444 
564 


39? 
40 






15 

16 


58.5 
58.2 


1.50 
1.50 


2.50 
2.50 


1.50 
1.25 


39425 
39170 


43500 
43200 


17967 
17691 


21 601 537 440 
21 432 161 520 


57? 
55 


404 
40? 





14 



OBSERVATIONS ON' THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. 



Day of 
month. 

1851. 


Height of 

river from 

bottom, 

in feet, 


Average rate of sur- 
face currents per hour, 
in miles. 


Areas of 
A. 


Areas of 
B. 


Areas of 

c. 


Quantity of water pass 
ing eacli day, 

in cubic feet. 


Tempera- 
ture of the 
water. 


Tempera- 
ture of the 
air. 


Evapora- 
tion in 
inches. 


Rain 
water in 
inches. 


A. 


B. 


C. 


January. 
17 
18 
19 


57.9 

57.6 

' 37.3 


1.25 
1.75 

1.50 


2.00 
2.75 
2.50 


1.75 

1.50 
1.50 


38915 
38660 

38405 


42900 
42600 
42300 


17415 
17139 
16863 


17 424 137 500 
24 263 929 490 
21 415 785 040 


O 

281 

26± 
32| 


O 
401 
391 
39! 


1.00 




20 
21 

22 


57.1 
57.0 
56.9 


1.50 
1.50 
1.50 


2.50 
2.50 
2.50 


1.50 
1.50 
1.50 


38235 
38150 

38065 


42100 
42000 
41900 


16679 
16587 
16495 


21 298 735 920 
20 746 257 840 
20 689 099 200 


33| 

47| 
53! 


39 
39 
381 




0.70 


23 
24 
25 


56.8 
56.5 
56.1 


1.50 
1.50 
1.25 


2.50 
2.40 
2.25 


1.50 
1.50 
1.50 


37980 
37725 
37389 


41800 
41500 
41100 


16403 
16127 
15763 


20 631 940 560 
20 000 312 640 
17 753 299 872 


44 

42± 

47| 


38! 

38 

38 


0.60 




26 

27 
28 


56.0 
55.9 
55.8 


1.30 
1.50 
1.50 


2.40 
2.50 
2.40 


1.50 
1.50 
1.50 


37305 
27221 
37137 


41000 
40900 
40800 


15672 
15581 
15490 


18 816 110 460 
20 119 508 640 

19 609 914 240 


571 

58 

58 


38! 
39 

40 




0.24 


29 
30 
31 


55.7 

55.5 
55.6 


1.50 
1.30 
1.30 


2.40 
2.25 
2.25 


1.50 
1.30 
1.30 


37053 
36885 
36969 


40700 
40510 
40600 


15308 
15217 
15308 


19 538 940 960 
17 504 716 488 
17 554 522 188 


27 

25! 

27| 


40 
39 
38! 






1.89 


2.44 


1.94 


916 014 437 928 


44.29 


39 .28 


2.30 


1.39 


February 
1 
2 
3 


55.8 
56.0 
56.3 


1.25 
1.25 
1.30 


2.20 
2.20 
2.40 


1.30 
1.30 
1.40 


37137 
37305 
37557 


40800 
41000 
41300 


15490 
15672 
15945 


17 378 026 260 

17 576 303 268 

18 921 134 593 


43 
41 
39! 


38! 
38! 
38! 




0.59 


4 
5 
6 


56.1 

55.8 
55.0 


1.30 
1.25 
1.20 


2.40 
2.25 
2.00 


1.40 
1.40 
1.20 


37389 
37137 

36885 


41100 
40800 
40500 


15763 
15490 
15217 


21 331 618 382 
17 789 603 580 
15 913 763 712 


39! 
46 

49! 


37 
37 

37! 


0.09 




7 
8 
9 


55.1 

54.8 
55.2 


1.30 
1.25 
1.30 


2.40 
2.25 
2.40 


1.40 
1.30 
1.40 


36549 
36297 
36633 


40100 
39800 
40200 


14857 
14587 
14947 


18 166 839 180 

17 106 166 728 

18 221 452 956 


53| 

63 

57 


37! 
38! 
391 




2.20 


10 
11 

12 


55.8 
57.0 
58.6 


1.30 
1.40 
1.50 


2.40 
2.50 
2.60 


1.40 
1.50 
1.50 


37053 
38150 
39511 


40700 
42000 
43600 


15399 
16587 
18050 


18 484 122 300 
20 807 137 560 
22 326 114 280 


37 
33! 

42 


41 
41 
41 






13 

14 
15 


61.5 
64.9 
68.0 


2.00 
2.00 
3.00 


3.00 
3.00 
3.90 


2.00 
2.25 
3.25 


42263 
45003 
47945 


46800 
49900 
53000 


21062 

24011 

1 27002 


32 465 516 000 

33 324 314 740 
49 754 850 650 


50 
60 

37! 


411 

42 

43 




0.95 
1.60 


16 
17 

18 


70.5 

72.7 
74.0 


3.00 
3.25 
3.00 


4.00 
4.25 
4.00 


3.25 

3.50 
3.50 


50465 
52767 
54150 


55500 
57700 
59000 


29427 
31573 
32862 


52 169 167 780 
61 369 410 800 
58 503 773 840 


29 i 
35^ 
44 


43 
43 
43 






19 
20 
21 


75.0 
76.5 
77.5 


3.25 
3.50 
4.00 


4.50 
4.50 
5.00 


4.00 
4.00 
4.25 


55230 
56875 

57985 


60000 
61500 
62500 


33852 
35337 
36327 


65 215 972 360 

68 430 756 240 
77 181 153 220 


58 

60! 

451 


44 
45 
45 


1.40 


1.74 


22 
23 

24 


78.4 
79.3 
80.7 


4.25 
4.50 
4.50 


5.25 

5.50 
5.50 


5.00 
5.25 
5.50 


58993 
60009 
60805 


63400 
64300 
65000 


37218 
38117 

38817 


85 259 337 900 

91 354 794 300 

92 575 929 940 


52! 

66 

53 


45! 

46 

46! 




0.50 
0.25 


25 
26 


80.4 
80.9 


4.00 
4.00 


5.25 
5.00 


5.25 
5.00 


61261 
61835 


65400 
65900 


39217 
39717 


87 122 047 160 
85 771 908 080 


541 

581 


46! 
461 






27 
28 

j 


81.2 
81.7 


4.00 
4.25 


5.00 
5.25 


5.00 
5.25 


62180 
62759 


66200 
66700 


40017 
40517 


86 252 098 680 
91 856 886 380 


40 
33 


46! 
451 


1.30 


1.48 


2.57 


3.60 


2.95 


1 342 330 188 769 


54.36 


41.98 


2.70 


8.77 



OBSKllV.VI'IONS ON THK MISSISSIPPI KIU li. 



If> 



These very interesting observations were made by order of the Hon. William A. Graham, Secretary of the 
Navy, whose mind, imbued with enlarged and liberal views, was ever quick to comprehend, and ready to 
advance the useful — and what can be more useful than a knowledge founded upon actual observation of the 
habits of the most majestic of the rivers, the mighty Mississippi ? 

That river has commenced to break through its banks, and to threaten with destruction not only plantations 

near it, but the village, the town and the city also. Terrible and destructive have been ha crevasses latterly 

The attention of the people has been directed to them, and Government is about to undertake iV<j task 
1 ' ir. 

deepening the bars at its mouth. 

These observations of Mr. Marr, which the Secretary was kind enough to have made at my request, have 
already been found of great practical value. The engineers who have been engaged with plans for deepening 
these bars, and of confining the river within its banks, have sought for and (I have no doubt) consulted them 
with advantage. 

I have before alluded to the fact here announced by this clever young officer, viz : that the mean temper- 
ature of the river water of the Mississippi at Memphis is above the mean temperature of the air at the same 
place. The fact at first appeared startling; but the cause is obvious, and has been distinctly alluded to elsewhere.* 

The mean temperature of the Amazon, according to the observations made by Lt. Herndon, during his 
descent of that river in 1852, is about two degrees and a half (2°. 5 Fahr.) higher than that of the air. This 
river runs East; consequently, throughout its course, the climate is nearly the same. 

The Mississippi comes from the North and goes to the South : that is, it runs from cold to warm climates. 
And we may conceive how, if the velocity of its current were not quite so great, the mean temperature of its 
water at any place would express the mean temperature of that place itself. Thus we perceive that there is a 
physical relation between the temperature of river water and the atmosphere ; and that in the difference of 
mean temperature between the water of rivers running North or South, and the air above it, the velocity of 
the stream may and probably does enter as a function. 

The Nile and Gulf Stream are the reverse of the Mississippi ; they run from warmer to cooler latitudes, 
and therefore it may be inferred that the greater difference between the mean temperature of a current and of 
the air above it, is to be found in the case of the Nile, the Gulf Stream, and their congeners. 

The fact that the wind in the bends of the Amazon blows up-stream — never across — may probably find a 
solution in the circumstance of this difference of temperature. I am not aware as to the faet, but suppose that 
the general direction of the wind on the Nile is up-stream mostly. 

I will merely mention here another fact, leaving it for a full discussion when I shall have procured more 
statistics and obtained the results of requisite observations — and that fact is, that the force of diurnal rotation 
of the earth is sensibly expressed upon the Mississippi river, and that generally this force is manifested as well 
by the rivers as by the trade winds. 
* See Maury's Sailing Directions. 




16 



OBSERVATIONS ON THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER, 



The planters along the west bank of the Mississippi are annoyed very much by the drift-wood lodging' 
on their plantations. Immense quantities of it are brought down by the river at flood. The levees on the 
west bank are often damaged, and the planters greatly annoyed by having it lodged about their premises ; 
whereas, they on the eastern bank are seldom or never incommoded by it. 

Moreover, it is a well known fact that the raftsmen who float timber down the Mississippi in large masses, 
complain that their rafts will get over on the western bank. When the river is high, and its current rapid, it re- 
quires all their force to keep it from setting upon the west bank. They themselves say it is not the wind that 
ws thepi, only they do not know what it is, except that the raft will go over on that side. 

But we have evidence stronger than this of the raftsmen. The great body of alluvial lands is west of the 
Mississippi ; there are no bluffs on that side in the alluvial region ; they are all on the eastern bank, showing 
the very curious fact that the channel of the river is traveling sidewise, as it were, or to the East. If the drift- 
wood and silt be by the force of diurnal rotation thrown on the western bank and cast up there, of course 
this accumulation of drift gradually obstructs the channel-way on that side, and makes it necessary for the 
river to cut away from the eastern side so as to obtain a channel of the requisite capacity for the discharge 
of its waters. 

Thus we may deduce a law, as to the course of rivers which run though tertiary, or regions free of rocky 
formations, and it is this : that in all rivers so running, and particularly in those which in their course make 
more difference of latitude than departure, the drift-wood and marshes will be found generally on the western 
banks, the bluffs and signs of encroachment on the eastern: provided the river runs towards the Equator, 
But if it run from the Equator towards either pole, then will the diurnal rotation cause the drift-wood to 
be lodged on the eastern bank, and so force the river over upon the western, and in this case cause the 
bed of the river to travel westwardly. 

This rule applies in the most striking manner to the Mississippi after it escapes from the rocky formations 
above the mouth of the Ohio river. And it is also strikingly the case upon the Madeira, one of the principal 
tributaries of the Amazon. 

I said a few days ago to an American sailor, who had just descended the Madeira for 1200 miles m a 
canoe, " upon which side of the river did you observe the most drift-wood ?" Without a moment's hesitation 
he said at once, " all upon the west bank." 

According to this rule also, the course of rivers should be affected by these causes also ; their channels 
should travel to the eastward in one case, to the westward in the other. 



The specimens of the sediment of the Mississippi river, which Mr. Marr had obtained for me, having 
been forwarded to Professor Ehrenberg for examination, he has kindly given to them his valuable attention, 
and communicted the results of his investigation to the Berlin Academy, at its meeting on the 20th of April, 
1851, as follows : 



OBSKUVAT10NS ON THE M ISSISSI1MM IUVKII. 17 

■ Finally, Mr. Ehrenberg spoke of the contents in solid parts and microscopic forms of life of the sediment 
of the Mississippi. 

"The director of the Astronomical National Observatory of the United States of North America at Washing- 
ton, Mr. Maury, (well known and honored by his great oceanic Wind and Current Charts,) has communicated 
to me on the 5th of April of this year, that very accurate observations are now being made at Memphis (Ten- 
nessee) on the Mississippi, respecting the quantity of water contained in the river at that place, and at the 
same time respecting the amount of solid matter carried in the water. 

" A U. S. naval officer, Mr. Robert A. Marr, has undertaken these observations with great care ; and Mr. 
Maury sends me four of the more important specimens of the sediment of the Mississippi, for microscopic 
examination, and in the same letter a brief extract from the account of Mr. Marr's results from each specimen, 

" I have attempted the investigation of the microscopic forms of life in these specimens from the Mississippi 
sediment, and believe that this river, in the extent of its tributary regions second only to the Amazon, and 
whose delta is second only to the delta of the Ganges and Bramaputra, is well worth the attention of the Academy 
in these hitherto unknown relations of life. To the small number of materials no great objection can be made, 
since it is already far greater than I should have required. If such matter be only properly collected and pre- 
served certainly pure, greater quantities would, it is true, give material additions to the results of the investi- 
gation, but in that which is important the relations and predominance of quantities, will make little change." 

After reading from Mr, Marr's report the section relating to silt, a and referring to his statements respecting 
the relative temperatures of the air and river, 6 and the total quantity of water which passed by Memphis 
during the year, Professor Ehrenberg continued : 

" The four specimens sent to me have the following external characteristics: 

1— D and E. 

" The two specimens of deposit obtained at high water differ from the other two in having a fine substance 
and a yellowish-gray or bright brown color. 

" D is the deposit of the surface water of the Mississippi from the middle of the river. It is a fine yellowish- 
gray sand, palpable between the fingers, with a yet finer mould, wherein only occasionally very small 
particles of mica can be perceived with a lens, and minute fibres of plants invisible to the naked eye. In 
heating, the mass becomes first black, then reddish, (feruginous.) Acids give no effervescence. 

" E was obtained from the bucket which had remained 5 minutes at the depth of 30 feet in the middle of 
the river. The deposit is like the preceding in color, but coarser — that is, a sand too fine for writing sand, but 
whose particles are yet distinctly perceptible between the fingers. With the lens one sees distinct quartz 
particles, silvery mica scales and also plant fibres. Heat and acids gave the same result as with D. 

2— F and G. 
" Both the specimens obtained at low water are more sandy, less fine in grain, and in color more gray, less 
brown. 



I 



a pages 3 and 4. 6 page 3. c page 6. 

5 



18 



OBSERVATIONS ON THE MISSISSIPPI RIVEK. 




" F is the deposit of the water drawn from the surface at low water. It is a fine parti-colored gray, black, 
brown, and reddish, rough drifting sand, with black and silvery shining particles. The predominating substance 
is composed of colorless quartz particles mixed with a few white ones. The reddish particles may be feldspar, 
and the whole mixture seems to be a sand from granitic mountains. Amongst the sand is a small portion of 
combustible, formless and yet recognizable organic particles. Heat first blackens the sand, and then makes it 
j>nght brown. Acid produces no perceptible effervescence. 

"G is the deposit from the depth of twenty feet. It is also a gray parti-colored writing-sand, entirely similar to 
the preceding, with perhaps a little coarser grain, though but slightly different, and of which the same things 
obtain throughout. Also in applying acids no distinct effervescence was perceptible, a proof that polythalamia 
i.e very rare. 

" Microscopic investigation has resulted in the following summary of the invisibly small forms of life in the 
mud of the Mississippi : 



Mud of the Mississippi river at Memphis, 1851. 





HIGH WATER. 


LOW WATER. 


Surface. 
' D. 


Depth 30 ft. 
E. 


Surface. 
F. 


Depth 20 ft. 
G. 


POLYGASTRA, 44. 










Arcella, Globulus - 


_ 


. 


. 


+ 


Cocconeis, borealis ? 


+ ? 








lineata - - 




+ 






Placentula 


. 


■f 






Cocconema, Lunula 


+ 


+ 






<2 




+ ? 






Difflugia, lavis ... 

Oligoden - 

Eunotia, amphioxys 

Diana 1 ) - 


+ 
+ 


+ 
+ ? 






gibba - 
granulata - 
Sphcerula - 
Zebra ... 


- 


+ 
+ 
+ 




+ 


Fragilaria, Rhabdosoma - 


+ 




+ ? 
+ 


+ ? 



OBSERVATIONS ON TIIK MISSISSIPPI RIVER. 



Table — Continued. 



If) 





HIGH 


WATER. 


LOW 1 


VATER. 


Surface. 


Depth 30 ft. 


Surface. 


Depth 20 ft. 




D. 


E. 


F. 


G. 


Gallionella, distans - 


+ ? 


. 


+ 


+ ? 


Icevis - 


+ 


+ 


+ 




Gloconema, — ? ... 


+ ? 


+ ? 


+ ? 


+ ? 


Gomphonema, Augur 


- 


+ 






clavatum - 


- 


+ 






gracile 


+ 




- 


+ ? 


Himantidium, Arcus 


- 


- 


+ 


+ 


Navicula, amphisphenia - 


- 


+ 






gracilis - 


+ 


+ 


- 


+ 


Platalea - 


- 


- 


+ 




Sigma --- 


- 


+ 




+ 


— <i 


+ ? 


+ ? 


+ ? 




Podosphenia, Pupula 


- 


+ 






Pinnularia amphioxys 


+ 


+ 






borealis subacuta? - 


- 


- 


+ ? 




decurrens 


+ ? 


+ 


- 


+ ? 


gibba - 




- 


- 


+ 


hegumen 


- 


+ 






Semen - 


« 


■ - 


+ 




Silicula- 


- 


- 




+ 


viridis - 


. 


+ 






Surirella C'occone'is- 


+ 








Librile - 




+ 






pygmcea - 


+ 








— ? ... 


+ ? 


+ ? 






Synedi-a, Ulna - 


+ 


+ 


+ 


+ 


Tabellaria, — ? 


+ ? 








Trachelomonas, Itevis 




- 


- 


+ 


18 


25 


11 


14 


3 


4 


2 





PHYTOLITHARIA, 37. 










Lithodontium, angulatum 


- 


- 


+ 


+ 


biemargimatum - 


- 


- 


+ 




Bursa 


- 


- 


+ 


+ 


emarginatum 


+ 


+ 


+ 


+ 


furcatum - 


+ 


+ 






nasutum - 


+ 


+ 


+ 


+ 


Platyodon - 


+ 


+ 






rostratum - 


- 


- 


+ 


+ 


Lithomesites, Pecten 


- 


+ 






Lithosphceridium, irregulare 


+ 


+ 


- 


+ 


Lithostylidium, Amphiodon 


- 


+ 






angulatum 


+ 


+ 


+ 


+ 


biconcavum 


- 


+ 


- 


+ 


bidens 


- 




- 


+ 


clavatum - 


+ 


+ 


+ 


+ 


cornutum- 


™ 


+ 







ft 



I 



i 





OBSERVATIONS ON THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. 



Table — Continued. 





HIGH WATER. 


LOW WATER. 


Surface. 


Depth 30 ft. 


Surface. 


Depth 20 ft. 




D. 


E. 


F. 


G. 


Lithostylidium, crenulaium 


1 


. 


+ 




curvatum 


+ 


+ 


+ 


+ 


■ denticulatum - 




+ 


+ 


+ 


trregulare 


- 


- 


+ 


+ 


tacerum - 


- 


+ 


- 


+ 


Iceve 


+ 


+ 


- 


+ 


obliquum - 


- 


- 


- 


+ 


ovatum - 


- 


+ 






quadratum 


+ 


+ 


+ 


+ 


Rajula - 


- 


■- 


- 


+ 


rude 


+ 


+ 


+ 


+ 


Serra 


+ 


- 


-f 


+ 


sinuosum 


- 


- 


- 


+ 


spiriferum 


- 


+ 






Trabecule/, 


+ 


+ 


+ 


+ 


triquetrum 


- 


+ 






unidentatum 


+ 








Spongolithis, acicularis - 


+ 


- 


4- 


+ ? 


jistulosa 


- 


+ ? 


+ 




foraminosa - 


- 


+ 


+ 




mississippica 


+ 


+ 


+ 


+ 


'l6 


24 


20 


24 


2 


7 


2 


8 


POLYTHALAMIA, 2. 










Rotaliarum,Jragmenta - 


- 


- 


- 


+ ? 


Textilaria, globulosa 


- 


- 


- 


+ 


THREAD WORMS, 1. 


l . 








Jlnguillula - - - - 


+ 








SOFT PLANT PARTICLES, 1. 










Plantary cellular structures 
Sum of organisms, 85 


+ 


+ 


+ 


+ 


36 


50 


32 


41 


2 




3 




INORGANIC FORMS, 3. 










Crystal-prisms, green 


_ 


+ 


+ 


+ 


yellowish green 


- 


- 


+ 




Mica - 

Whole sum, 88 - 


+ 


+ 


+ 


+ 


37 


52 


35 


43 


6 


5 


5 


4 



7 



OBSERVATIONS ON THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. 



" The suifare of high water, D, contains, in the given Specimen of deposit, in 20 analyse;, .'{7 ihk roy. -r., 
forms, namely : IS polymastia, 1G phytolitharia, 1 anguillula, plantary cellular slrnctuies, and mica scal/s, wil.\ 

quarts Band. 

" In 30 feet depth at high water there were, also, according to 20 analyses, 52 forms ; 25 polygastra, 2 1 
phytolitharia, plant particles, and 2 crystalline forms in abundant quartz sand. 

"In low water, 20 analyses of the surface mud gave 35 forms; 11 polygastra, 20 phytolitharia, plant 
particles, and 3 crystals with much quartz sand. 

" At 20 feet depth, the mud contained, according also to 20 analyses, 43 forms ; 14 polygastra, 24 phytc- 
litharia, 2 polythalamia, plant particles, and 2 crystals with much quartz sand. 

"In the high water sediment w r ere 65 forms; in low water 54. The whole observed number of forms 
amounts to 88. 

"All the forms, with the single exception of the polythalamia, are fresh water forms. The polythalamia 
give the impression of chalk forms, and are in part the predominating forms in writing chalk. Since more- 
over, they are the only sea forms, their introduction from chalk strata admits of no doubt. 

" Among the 44 polygastra there is, besides the doubtful gloconema, no new kind showing itself. Among 
.the 37 phytolitharia, only two appear w T ith new names — lithodontium biemarginatum, corresponding to L. emar- 
ginatum with two depressions in the base, and spongolithis mississipica. The latter form is like the spong. 
aspera, very thick and short, sharp at both ends ; and suggests a peculiar hitherto unknown fresh water 
fungus of the river, spongilla* 

" The great quantity of quartz-sand in the upper myd of the river is astonishing when we compare with 

small rivers ; but it is much less so when we think of the whirling mass of water of so great a stream 

moving forward only in whirlpools and eddies. Since the explorations of the French expedition into Egypt, 

we have already known that the Nile carries on and deposits much sand in the middle of its stream ; only 

at the sides in calmly flowing water is less sand thrown down, and further from the stream on the overflowed. 

surface the mud consists of an excess of mould and organic matter without perceptible sand. Specimens of 

such material from the more quiet mud and more important deposite of the shores, which forms the peculiarly 

fruitful soil of the Delta, must yet be collected from the Mississippi, in order to obtain a correct view and to 

institute a comparison. 

- 
" From the material now at hand, not yet sufficient for farther conclusions, but yet very acceptable, we infer 

that also here some per cent, of the mud belongs to the invisible organic life which may be perhaps expressed. 

as from T V to J? of the solid matter, or two to three per cent., which however can give no standard for the 

whole, since from the analogies of the Ganges, Nile, and other rivers, it is far too small. 





•The spongoliths here enumerated, designate three peculiar kinds of such forms, which must exist in the tributary regions of the Mis- 
sissippi, although not yet observed by any botanist. 1 Spongilla, (badiaga, ephydalia,) lacuslris, to which spongolithis acicularis belongs ; 
2 spongilla framinosa, to which spongol. fistuloza and foramin. belong ; 3 spongilla mississippica. Compare the monthly reports, 1846, p. 
101, where also 2 other American spongillse are pointed out. Spongilla mississippica and americana are local forms ; the others are 
widely scattered over the earth, and are cosmopolites rich in geognostie influence. 
6 



OBSERVATIONS ON THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. 




/"The Ganges at high water carries in one second 580,000 cubic feet of water, theilWe*'l76,148 cubic 
jpet. According to the above data for the year, the Mississippi carries on the average 434,711 cubic feet: 
neai v exactly as much as the Ganges at high water and 2\ times as much as the Nile. In this water of the 
Mississippi the mud amounts to ■^■ ST - S consequently in every second to 147 cubic feet solid matter. In 
the Nile it amounts to lSOj^, and in the Ganges to 557 cubic feet in a second. Hence the Mississippi in a 
mass of water equal to that of the Ganges carries only a mass of solid matter equal to that of the Nile. 

" According to my direct investigations, the microscopic organic living part of the river mud, amounts t*j 

in the Ganges (| — \) in each second 69 — 139 cubic feet. 
\Nile J ( r V — tV) " " 6— 13 " " 

^.Mississippi (t'tt — uV) " " 2 — 4 " " 

The last is evidently too small, and will probably be modified by examination of the finer mud out of 
the current and near the shore. 

"By analysis of the 21 quart- flasks of water from the Ganges and Bramaputra in every month, sent to me 
from Calcutta (see monthly reports 1846, p. 278.) I have made the most thorough investigations respecting 
the great proportion of microscopic life in the mud and delta formations of these rivers. According to these it 
is probable that the numbers for the two other rivers will increase yet more. 

" The further extension of the details of these investigations is already printed in the second volume of the 
great work on Infusoria — the Micro-geological Investigations, — nearly ready for publication." 



1029 708 366 J 





